Dividing strip for terrazzo and like floors



March 7, 1933. P. GALASSI mvmme STRIP FOR mnmzzo AND LIKE moons 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1930 INVENTOR PdSiMd/E 6d ldssl' afiik ATTORNEY March 7, 1933. p ssi 1,900,704

DIVIDING STRIP FOR TERRAZZO AND LIKE FLOORS Filed Ju1y 2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w I @wa fifi INVENTOR Patented Mar. 7, 1933 PATENT OFFICE PASQUALE GAIJASSI, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

DI-VIDING STRIP FOR TERRAZZO AND LIKE FLOORS Application filed July 2, 1930. Serial No. 465,325.-

This invention relates to dividing strips of the type used in thelaying of terrazzo and similar floors; and more particularly refers to improvements in dividing strips comprising an upper uninterrupted longitudinal portion and longitudinally spaced lugs depending therefrom.

Terrazzo, granolithic, stucco and similar floors usually comprise alower or foundation bed madeof concrete or cement or mortar or other suitable material, and an upper or finishing layer generally consisting of a mixture of marble chips and cement, by means ofwhich a good durable surface may be Obtained as well as pleasing designs and color effects of a practically unlimited variety. u

' The upper layer which is generally placed in positionafter the foundation layer has been allowed to harden to a sufficient degree of consistency, is generally divided into a number of panels orunits in a predeterminedarrangement, which are'obtained' by outlining the desired design by means of foundation layer. a

These, strips generally consist of relatively thin and wide metal bars set on edge, said bars having their upper edges flush with the surface of the fioor, forming the desired design; said bars being generally provided with anchoring and positioning means insuring a firm binding action between the 7 strips and the materials ofwhichthe floor is composed. c r

These bars are generally made of relatively softmetal such as brass for instance, the

wearing qualities of which are approximateupper portion with a longitudinalrib memdividing strips placed-on or through the self bemg suffic ently rigid to withstand quently insufficient for all practical pur- 3 The primary object of the present invention is to provide a strip of the type comhese heavier strips are also generally made out of sheet metal but brass being an expensive material, their use materially increases the cost of the floor. At times the ornamental features are such as to require extra thick metallic strips showing through the material, and in these cases, tlie oost is still higher. v

In a copending application entitled, Floor strips,.Ser. No. 375,052, I have described a 0 novel type of dividing strip, the lower portion of which is notched at spaced intervals so as to form a longitudinal series of lugs depending from the upper portion of thestrip. Such a strip results in a material saving of 5 material as against an ordinary strip of the same thickness and width, and when madeof light gauge material, suflicient rigidity may be imparted tothe strip by forming its her close port-ion.

When the strip is made of relatively heavy gauge metal, the provision of a reinforcing rib is usually unnecessary, the material itto the lower edge of said upper the lateral pressures imposed upon it.

011 the other hand, when material of medium weight is used, the rigidity of the strip without the reinforcing rib member is freso poses; at the same time theprovision of a lon itudinal rib member obtained by embossing operations requiresthe use of very high pressures which in their turn call for heavy and expensive presses and dies.

Even whenthe strip is madeoutof light gauge} metal, it is necessary to use a relatively heavy press 111 order to produce the longitudinal rib member at one stroke, be-

cause these strips are generally six feet long,

so that the cost of the equipment is at times so high that it can only be justified by a very large production 1 or by a relatively highselling price.

prising an uninterruptedupper portion and a pluralit of longitudinally spaced lugs-depending t erefrom, in which the reinforcing feature is of a nature permitting the use of presses and machines lighter than those required by the strips to which my other above mentioned application refers.

Another object is to provide in a strip of the character specified, a type of reinforcement which may be used instead of the longitudinal rib member specified in my other application above referred to, adapted to reinforce the weak sections of the strip without requiring the use of expensive presses. even when the strip is made out of relatively heavy gauge metal.

A further object is to provide in a dividing strip of the character specified, a novel and improved type of reinforcement adapted to impart to the strip the desired r idity and at the same time to act as pozoning and anchoring means for the strip.

()ther objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed in the appended claims.

Various embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view in ele ration of a strip having its lower portion notched at spaced intervals and provided with reinforcing ribs in correspondence of its notched portions;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the same through line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

F ig. 3 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of a similar strip in which the reinforcing ribs are vertically displaced from the lower edge of the upper portion of the strip;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View of the same through line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of a strip of the same character illustrating a different type of reinforcing rib;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the same through line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of a similar strip in which the reinforcing ribs extend along the entire outline of the notches;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the same through line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of a strip of a similar character in which the reinforcing rib extends all along the outline of the notched lower edge of the strip;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of the same through line 1010 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side View in elevation of a strip having a plurality of longitudinally spaced dove-tailed notches along its lower portion, said strip being reinforced in accordance with my inventive idea;

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view of the same through line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of a similar strip provided with a different type of reinforcing rib members;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional View of the same through line 1414 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a vertical cross section of a strip of the type shown in Figs. 11 and 12 in position; and

Fig. 16 is a vertical cross section showing a strip of the type shown in Figs. 5, 6 or 13, 14 in position, at the same time illustrating the function of positioning and anchoring means, performed by reinforcing rib members.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 2O designates a floor strip comprising an upper portion 21 having an uninterrupted upper edge 22, and a plurality of spaced lugs 23 depending therefrom, said lugs having their lower edges 24 in alignment with one another and parallel to the upper edge 22.

Said lugs are preferably spaced at even intervals to form notches which normally reach about midway of the width of the strip. The strip thus formed is preferably provided with anchoring means which are represented by ears such as 26 struck off and bent laterally of each lug, these cars becoming embedded in the floor material and preventing the strip from coming off after the material has hardened. As illustrated in the drawings, the floor strip is generally flat in form and the bottom edges of the lugs have substantially the same thickness as the body portions of the lugs in accordance with the usual construction of terrazzo floor strips in order to facilitate setting the strip edgewise in the cementitious material of the foundation bed of the floor.

A strip of the character described makes it possible to effect a considerable saving of material because two full width strips may be obtained out of a strip blank, the Width of which is only equal to the height a of a single strip plus the height I) of the upper portion of another strip, as explained in my pending application above mentioned and in another copending application entitled Method of producing dividing strips for floors, Ser. No. 433,315. However, the section of the strip is considerably weakened in correspondence of the notches and therefore it is necessary or desirable to so reinforce the strip that it will have sufficient rigidity to withstand the lateral pressure to which it will be subjected while being laid.

In my other copending applications above referred to, this end is attained by providing a continuous longitudinal rib member at or near the base of the upper portion of the strip when needed. However, as stated it is at times diliicult to produce such a continuous longitudinal rib especially when a material of relatively heavy gauge is used.

In view of the fact that the section of the strip is actually weakened only incorrespondence of' its, notches and not in correspondence of'its lu s, I have thereforeconceived the idea 0 providing reinforcing rib members extendinglongitudinally above and'slightl'y beyond the upper edge of each notch, thus reinforcing the strip only wherev a stiffening action is actually needed;

The reinforcements thus "provided may take various forms; For instance, in the form'ill'ustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a rib or bead 27 i is formed directly adjoining the edge 28 of each notch, said rib or bead extending slightly beyond each end of said inner edge, as shown at 29, 30:

While it is preferable to provide a continuous longitudinal rib 'member when a light gauge {metal is used, spaced rib or bead members 34, directly above, each notch and slightly spaced from the inner edge thereof, said rib or bead members being alternately offset at one side and then at the other of the strip. Said strip furthermore illustrates the use ofopen top cup members such as36,'struck ofi' and offset from the lugs, said cup members providing anchoring means'which do not tend to weaken the section of the strip.

The strip illustrated. in Figs. 5, 6, comprising a continuous-longitudinal upper portion 36 andlongitudinally spaced lugs 37 depending therefrom, forming notches 38, is reinforced by bending outwardly the inner edge of each notch forming flange members 39 extending laterally of the body of the strip. Said flange members provide an adequate reinforcement for the strip and at the same time act both as positioning and anchoring means for said strip, determining the depth at which the strip is to be inserted within the lower bed of the floor.

A similar type of reinforcement is shown in Figs. 7, 8, where the strip, comprising a continuous upper portion 40 and a plurality of longitudinally spaced lugs 11 depending therefrom, forming intervening notches 42, is reinforced by rib or flange members 43 which extend all the notches.

A further modification of the type of rib or flange members shown in Figs. 5 to 8, illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, is shown in Figs. 9, 10 where l l'designates the upper portion of the strip, 15 the lugs depending therefrom and 46 the notches intervening therebetween. In said strip, the entire lower edge including the sides of the notches and the lower edge of the lugs is bent outwardly to form a continuous flange 47 which acts to all intents and purposes as a continuous longitudinal rib, with the difference that all other conditions being equal less pressure is needed to bend the metal in around the outline of the plastic material of which the flooris composed.-

A strip embodying this feature is shown in Figs. 11, 12 where 48 is the upper continuous portion ofthe strip and 19 are longitudinally spaced dovetailed lugs depending therefrom forming dovetailed notches 50 intervening therebetween. By virtuev of this construction, the two ends of each lug are in the nature of pronged elements 51, 52 adapted to firmly anchor the strip in the floor composition, making it unnecessary to provideother anchoring means. The strip :1 is reinforced in any one of the manners previously described, for instance, by providing ribs or beads such as 53 directly ad joining the base of each notch.

In Figs. 13, let, I illustrate a similar strip i comprising anv upperportion 5 1 and a plurality of longitudinally spaced dovetailed lugs 55 depending therefrom, forming intervenin dovetailed notches 56, in which the reinforcing and positioning means are F190 obtained by bending outwardly the base-of each notch forming flange members 57 similar to flange'members 39of the strip shown in Figs. 5,

' A- strip of the type shown in Figs. 11

and 12 is shown inposition in Fig. '15 where 58 designates the floor foundation, 59 the lower layer ofrthe floor and 50 theupper layer. It will be observed that the reinforcing inner .or' basev edges 53' of. the 551110 notches are used as a means of determining the depth at which" the strip is forced 7 through the lower layer ofthe floor, so that the distance between said edges 53 and the upperedge of the strip. determines the depth i of'the upper layer 60. i

In Fig. 16,:I illustrate the positioning and. anchoring functions performed by the reinforcing .flange or rib members. 39 of a strip of the type shown in Figs. 5, 6, or of 1:120 a strip-of the type shown in Figs. 13, 14.

I In said Fig. 16, 61 designates the floor foundation, 62 the lower layer of the floor,

63 the upper layer. It will be observed that rib or flange members 39 positively determine the'depth at which the strip-should be inserted vwithin the lower layer and also j provide reliable means for maintainingithe vertical alignment of the strip.

order to produce the flange 47 than would Strips of-numerous other. designs could be illustrated all embodying my inventive idea which consists substantially in producing a strip of standard height, which permits of effecting a considerable saving of metal as compared with the amount required by similar products heretofore known, said strip being reinforced whereever its section has been weakened by notching operations.

It is, of course, also within the scope of my invention to apply the method of reinforcing above described, in connect-ion with strips having portions reaching down to their lower edge struck-off and bent laterally of the strip for the purpose of producing positioning and anchoring means therefor, such as shown for instance in Patent No. 1,371,857.

In a similar manner, my invention can also be applied in connection with those strips which, although, having both their upper and their lower edges uninterrupted, have their section weakened at points where openings are formed by blanking operations or by striking off and laterally bending portions of the body of the strip for the purpose of forming anchoring means therefor.

The drawings are intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense; I therefore reserve the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A floor pattern and guide strip comprising a metallic strip having an upper portion provided with an uninterrupted edge, a

lower port-ion comprising spaced lugs and intervening notches, the bottom edges of said lugs having substantially the same thickness as the body portions thereof, and spaced laterally projecting rib-members in said upper portion spaced from the top of said notches.

2. A floor pattern and guide strip comprising a metallic strip having an upper portion provided with an uninterrupted edge, a lower portion comprising spaced lugs and intervening notches, the bottom edges of said lugs having substantially the same thickness as the body portions thereof, and spaced rib members projecting from opposite sides of said upper portion adjacent the lower edge thereof and positioned over the notches between said lugs.

3. A pattern and guide strip for floors having a foundation layer of lastic material and an upper layer of plastic material, comprising a metallic strip having an upper portion having an uninterrupted upper edge adapted to be exposed at and flush with the top surface of the upper layer of the floor, a lower portion comprising a plurality of spaced lugs and intervening notches, said lugs adapted to be embedded in the foundation layer of the floor, the bottom edges of said lugs having substantially the same thickness as the body portions thereof, and laterally projecting spaced ribs at the top of said notches adapted to be positioned at the top of the foundation layer of the floor thereby to constitute positioning means for the strip to determine the depth of said upper layer of plastic material.

4. A pattern and guide strip for floors having a foundation layer of plastic material and an upper layer of plastic material, comprising a metallic strip having an upper portion having an uninterrupted upper edge adapted to be exposed at and flush with the top surface of the upper layer of the floor, a lower portion comprising a plurality of spaced lugs and intervening notches, said lugs adapted to be embedded in the foundation layer of the floor, the bottom edges of said lugs having substantially the same thickness as the body portions thereof, and spaced ribs projecting laterally from opposite sides of said upper portion and positioned at the lower edge thereof over said notches, adapted to be positioned at the top of the foundation layer of the floor thereby to constitute positioning means for the strip to determine the depth of said upper layer of plastic material.

PASQUALE GALASSI. 

